Fantasy Baseball SP Rankings: Top players, sleepers at starting pitcher for 2020

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy Baseball SP Rankings: Top players, sleepers at starting pitcher for 2020 image

Our 2020 fantasy SP rankings will feature many, many updates throughout the spring. No other position gets decimated by injury quite like starting pitcher, and with some top-tier hurlers already on the shelf, opening day can't come soon enough. That doesn't mean these rankings are meaningless -- it just means drafting depth and taking chances with a few sleepers is more important at starter than any other position. 

Ranking SPs is further complicated by the volatility of standard pitching stats, particularly wins. Strikeouts is a fairly reliable stat for pitchers, but even WHIP and ERA can fluctuate noticeably from year-to-year. We saw that last season with Blake Snell and Chris Sale, among others. Because of that, advanced stats like BABIP, FIP, and SIERA can give us a much better picture of how a player really performed last season -- and could perform this season. 

2020 Fantasy Baseball Rankings:
Catcher | First | Second | Third | Short | Outfield | Reliever | Top 300

Of course, you have to project when doing rankings, and that means giving some proven talents, such as Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber, the benefit of the doubt and predicting breakouts for guys like Jesus Luzardo or Dinelson Lamet. You're not going to guess correctly on on everyone, but targeting at least a few bounce-backs and breakouts -- again, based largely on advanced stats -- is a good way to approach the position. 

2020 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers:
Catcher | First | Second | Third | Short | Outfielder | Starter | Each team

Fantasy baseball owners know you can never have enough depth at SP, so even if you don't necessarily draft an SP early (not a necessity but you usually want at least one bona fide ace), you should draft them often. The middle rounds are usually full of undervalued starters, so make sure to go into the season with options -- and be prepared to be active on the waiver wire. 

2020 Fantasy Baseball Tiers, Draft Strategy:
Catcher | First | Second | Third | Short | Outfield | Starter | Reliever

Again, we'll be updating our SP rankings as needed, so check back for the latest player movement!

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2020 Fantasy Baseball Cheat Sheet

Fantasy Baseball SP Rankings

Rankings based on 5x5 H2H leagues with ERA, WHIP, Ks, Ws, and Saves as categories

More 2020 Fantasy Baseball: Auction Values | Mock Draft Simulator

RankingPlayerTeam
1Max ScherzerNationals
2Gerrit ColeYankees
3Jacob deGromMets
4Justin VerlanderAstros
5Mike ClevingerIndians
6Walker BuehlerDodgers
7Jack FlahertyCardinals
8Blake SnellRays
9Stephen StrasburgNationals
10Luis CastilloReds
11Lucas GiolitoWhite Sox
12Tyler GlasnowRays
13Shane BieberIndians
14Chris PaddackPadres
15Charlie MortonRays
16Aaron NolaPhillies
17Clayton KershawDodgers
18Patrick CorbinNationals
19Frankie MontasA's
20James PaxtonYankees
21Lance McCullers Jr.Astros
22Corey KluberRangers
23Carlos CarrascoIndians
24Jesus LuzardoA's
25Jose BerriosTwins
26Mike SorokaBraves
27Hyun-Jin RyuBlue Jays
28Sonny GrayReds
29Zack GreinkeAstros
30Max FriedBraves
31Luke WeaverD-backs
32Sean ManaeaA's
33Yu DarvishCubs
34Trevor BauerReds
35Jake OdorizziTwins
36Lance LynnRangers
37Brandon WoodruffBrewers
38Zac GallenD-backs
39Dinelson LametPadres
40Zack WheelerPhillies
41Marcus StromanMets
42Eduardo RodriguezRed Sox
43Madison BumgarnerD-backs
44Kenta MaedaTwins
45Kyle HendricksCubs
46Joey LucchesiPadres
47Robbie RayD-backs
48Matt BoydTigers
49Shohei OhtaniAngels
50Julio UriasDodgers
51Adrian HouserBrewers
52Tyler MahleReds
53German MarquezRockies
54Carlos MartinezCardinals
55Jon GrayRockies
56Joe MusgrovePirates
57Mike MinorRangers
58Andrew HeaneyAngels
59Anthony DeSclafaniReds
60Caleb SmithMarlins
61Brendan McKayRays
62Griffin CanningAngels
63Mitch KellerPirates
64Aaron CivaleIndians
65A.J. PukA's
66Masahiro TanakaYankees
67Jordan MontgomeryYankees
68Jose QuintanaCubs
69Justus SheffieldMariners
70Spencer TurnbullTigers
71Cole HamelsBraves
72Gio GonzalezWhite Sox
73Dallas KeuchelWhite Sox
74Josh LindblomBrewers
75Jon LesterCubs
76Chris ArcherPirates
77Zach PlesacIndians
78Jordan YamamotoMarlins
79Ryan YarbroughRays
80Miles MikolasCardinals
81Kevin GausmanGiants
82Julio TeheranAngels
83Pablo LopezMarlins
84Ross StriplingDodgers
85Yonny ChirinosRays
86Steven MatzMets
87Dylan CeaseWhite Sox
88Jose UrquidyAstros
89Forrest WhitleyAstros
90Homer BaileyTwins
91Marco GonzalesMariners
92Brad PeacockAstros
93Dylan BundyAngels
94John MeansOrioles
95Rick PorcelloMets
96Jeff SamardzijaGiants
97Kyle GibsonRangers
98Johnny CuetoGiants
99Jake ArrietaPhillies
100Mike FoltynewiczBraves

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.